title: The good doctor: a qualitative study of German homeopathic physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify the factors that make a good doctor, both from a patient and a physician perspective. Is there a connection between practicing homeopathy and being a good doctor?
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study of homeopathically trained physicians and their patients, using observation of patient-physician interactions (n = 29) and interviews with patients (n = 20) and with physicians (n = 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients identified the availability of time, both in itself and as a prerequisite for other physician characteristics, as the single most important factor. Other factors include scope of diagnosis/holistic approach, patient-centeredness/empathy, and perceived competence/therapeutic success. Patients did not link these factors to the homeopathic orientation of their physician, while physicians clearly made this connection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings confirm other studies of patient satisfaction and physician characteristics. The availability of time, a holistic approach, and high physician empathy lead to high patient satisfaction. Homeopathic physicians probably are more likely to exhibit these characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care policy should create conditions that enable individual physicians to be "good doctors." For medical education, a stronger emphasis on interpersonal skills and practitioner empathy could lead to higher patient satisfaction and potentially better treatment outcomes. Homeopathy might provide a good role model for this type of education.
authors.affiliation: Science & Technology Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kliems
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Witt
mesh_terms: D003933:Diagnosis; D004645:Empathy; D005858:Germany; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006694:Holistic Health; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019370:Observation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research